Did you know that most coffee/tea drink covers are made from polystyrene (plastic #6)? While I recommend that you always bring your own re-usable container to the coffee shop, I realize that even the best of us stop on a whim sometimes. Don’t throw away that drink cover – use it! Here’s how:
What you need:
a drink cover made with #6 plastic :: colored pencils or permanent markers :: scissors :: toaster oven or conventional oven :: tray for oven (can be made with aluminum foil and corrugated cardboard) :: pancake turner :: hot pad or oven mitt
Draw and cut your charm: Using markers or colored pencils, draw your charm on the top of the drink cover. Keep in mind that your charm will shrink to about 75% of its original size. Then cut out the design and if you would like a hole in your charm for stringing, use a hole punch now.
Place charm on oven tray: I prefer to use a toaster oven for shrinking, but you can also use a conventional oven. Place your charm on an oven tray covered with aluminum foil.
Shrink your charm: I set my toaster oven to the highest setting (500 degrees) and turn it on. Toaster ovens heat up quickly so I place the tray and charm in immediately. If you are using a conventional oven, you will want to wait for the oven to pre-heat.
If you are familiar with store-bought shrink plastic, you know that during shrinking, the plastic curls and then flattens. With the drink cover plastic, the charm curls and does not flatten. As soon as you see the charm start to move (shrink) hold the pancake turner a few millimeters from the charm to prevent it from curling. You can also pat the charm with the pancake turner while it’s soft and hot. This is fairly easy to do with a toaster oven – it will probably be more difficult with a conventional oven. Above all else, be careful, use a hot pad, and never allow a child to do this.
Once it has stopped moving and shrinking, it’s done. My charm was 3 centimeters in diameter before shrinking and 2 ¼ centimeters after. It is still somewhat flexible.
Apply finish and use: Optional: If you would like a shiny or thicker finish, apply a layer or two of decoupage glue over the charm. Once dry – string your charm and display proudly!
About the designer: Bree Norlander of Hot Tea Apparel sells her creations on Etsy. She designs and creates clothing and accessories using reclaimed, recycled, and natural fibers. Before discarding anything, she always consider whether she can reuse it. Her crafting room is filled with burlap sacks, plastic containers, bits and pieces of paper, yarn, t-shirts, and too many other odds and ends! Enjoy this tutorial and continue to take recycling into your own hands.
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